Page 152 - 4091-BOOK2

150
Exceptional Cased Factory “Vine Scroll” Engraved
Colt Model 1860 Army Percussion Revolver
with Ebony Grip Passed Down through the Family of
Second Lieutenant Huntington F. Wolcott
of the Second Massachusetts Cavalry
LOT 1190
Serial no. 151385, 44 cal., 8 inch round bbl., blue/casehardened/silver finish, ebony grips.
This stunning Colt Model 1860 Army revolver is one of only an estimated 2,000 Model 1860 Army revolvers completed in 1864 due to the Colt factory fire that February and features the stunning factory “late percussion vine scroll” engraving patterns used by Colt’s factory engravers in the latter part of the percussion era. Herbert Houze attributes the engraving
of other examples in this period, including examples discussed below, to German-American engraver Georg H. Sterzing in “Colt Factory Engravers of the Nineteenth Century.” The engraving includes complex entwining floral scroll engraving inhabited by a fox head on the left above the wedge and an eagle head on the right side above the wedge along with floral bloom accents, “COLT’S/PATENT” inscribed rather than stamped on the left side of the frame, and the classic dog/wolf head motif on the hammer. The revolver also features the classic Colt combination of deep blued finish on the barrel and cylinder, casehardening on the frame as well as the loading lever and hammer, niter blued small parts, and silver plated grip frame. It is fitted with an extremely scarce factory ebony grip. The barrel has a German silver blade front sight and is marked with “-ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW-YORK U.S. AMERICA-“ on top. The cylinder features the classic Naval Battle of Campeche roll scene. The left side of the trigger guard has the “44 CAL” marking. The factory “I.E.” marking designating special grips and engraving is marked above or below the serial numbers on the barrel, frame, trigger guard, and back strap. All of the visible serial numbers match. It comes in
a mahogany presentation case with dark green velvet lining, an Eley Bros. cap tin, Colt’s patent powder flask with a stand of arms design on one side and slanted charger, blued “44 H” marked ball/bullet mold, L-shaped combination tool, key, and several
lead balls and bullets.
The revolver is part of a historic group of several deluxe revolvers manufactured in 1864 that feature the classic late percussion vine scroll engraving and ebony grips. The best known of the special 1864 series was the revolver believed to have been presented to Ulysses S. Grant (151718). On pages 286-288 of “The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver” by Charles W. Pate, the author provides details on the 2,000 1864 produced Model 1860 Army revolvers. He indicates 250 were “special in some way by the time they were eventually sold.”That means 12.5% of the Model 1860 Army revolvers that year wear embellished. Given the limited production of revolvers that year, the factory likely wanted to make sure they had some on hand when needed, but it is also clear they were experimenting with different deluxe options given the shift in engraving style and use of ebony grips.